Old Brooklyn / Memphis and Pearl
- Client:
- Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation
- Location:
- Old Brooklyn, Cleveland, Ohio
- Year:
- 2023-2026
- Budget:
- $25,355,327
- Size:
- 105,301 SF
- Building Uses:
- Restaurant/Brewery, Retail, Affordable Housing
Project Timeline
The Memphis and Pearl project stakeholders are dedicated to transparency throughout all steps of the project process.
Check out the timeline below to see what we’ve done, what we’re doing, and what’s to come!
Have a question? Submit in our contact form and we will populate in our soon-to-be release FAQ.
Completed
-
2014
United Church of Christ Abandons St. Luke's Church Building & OBCDC Begins Leading the Redevelopment. -
2019
OBCDC Receives the Former St. Luke's Building as a Donation & Explores Redevelopment Opportunities. -
2019
OBCDC Engages PRUMC as a Project Partner & Acquires the Greenline Building, Increasing Site Size. -
2021
Community Rejects All Development Plans That Do Not Include Restoring the St.Luke's Building to its Original Footprint. -
2022
OBCDC & PRUMC Engage with Desmone on a Bold Development Project, Including the Reuse of Two Historic Structures Linked with New Construction. -
March 2023
OBCDC Partners with Tipping Point for Capital Structuring & To Begin Capital Campaign. -
May 2023
The Community Voices Their Top Priorities. The Project Team Translates These Into a Feasible Design Plan. -
July 2023
Cuyahoga County Council Awards the Project $250,000 in ARPA to Fund Predevelopment & Unlock Additional Sources. -
August 2023
City of Cleveland Awards Project $3 Million in Community Development Grant. -
September 2023
City of Cleveland City Council Awards $2.5 Million to OBCDC Exclusively for Predevelopment. -
October 2023
AFL/CIO HIT Expresses Interest in Providing $19 Million For Construction Loan. -
August 2024
OBCDC Receives $2,042,027 of Ohio Brownfield Remediation Grant Dollars via Cuyahoga County Land Bank Application. -
November 2024
Community Shares Their Feedback on What Impacts They'd like to See Result from the Redevelopment. -
November 2024
Tenants Notified of Upcoming URA Process + O.R. Colan Begins Site Surveys. -
December 2024
Cleveland City Planning Commission Approves Site Strategy at Near West Design Review. -
January 2025
Community Shares Input on Programming at New PRUMC Space. -
February 2025
AdvURA Process Begins + O.R. Colan Explains Resources to Tenants.ancement of Technical Due Diligence On-Site – Environmental & Geotechnical -
April 2025
Community Provides Input on Contextual Design. -
May 2025
90-Day Notice to Vacate Issued to Former Greenline Tenants. -
July 2025
30-Day Notice to Vacate Issued to Former Greenline Tenants. -
September 6th, 2025
Final Tenant Vacation Date -
October 2025
David Robinson Named as New Executive Director of OBCDC. -
October 2025
Additional 100K in Casino Funds Awarded to Project. -
November 2025
Remediation & Demolition Permits Approved by the City of Cleveland. -
December 2025
Brownfield Remediation Work Begins Inside Buildings. -
April 2026
PRUMC Moves to Temporary Location: St. Elias Church.
Project News and Updates
Memphis and Pearl Mission
Our hope is the development of the Memphis and Pearl will be a catalyst that ignites a rebirth for the business corridor. Our thoughtful design concepts pay homage to what the community continues to cherish while also providing them their wants and needs.
We believe that this project will attract younger demographics to the neighborhood while also connecting the residents who are itching for an “at home” brewery and local health services. Old Brooklyn is situated amidst all budding connections, which makes getting the design and development “right” that much more important.
Memphis and Pearl can regain its role as the cornerstone of the community through innovative design that highlights the OBCDC’s commitment to restoring a historic landmark of the neighborhood. Our team prides ourselves on preserving iconic architecture, we welcome the challenge and want to bring life back to St. Luke’s.
The building needs to offer desirable Class A apartments to bring both businesses and residential tenants into the neighborhood. By offering retail space on the ground floor, Memphis and Pearl will serve the commercial and residential tenants in the building as well as the greater community.
It is time to bring the energy back St. Luke’s, and make it a thriving gathering space once again.
Project Team
Memphis and Pearl Redevelopment FAQs
What impacts of remediation, demolition, or construction can the community expect?
Noise: Construction noise during standard working hours (generally 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., with some activities starting at 8:00 a.m.).
Traffic & Parking: Temporary traffic changes or lane closures, with advance notice shared through OBCDC and on-site signage. Most construction workers will park on-site, but there may be some overflow parking on nearby streets during busy days.
Site Conditions: Dust and environmental safety measures will be monitored and managed according to state and federal regulations.
Utilities: Advance notice (48–72 hours when possible) of any utility interruptions. We are coordinating closely with utilities and will do our best to minimize disruptions to nearby homes and businesses.
Why must tree removal happen on site? What is the impact?
Limited tree removal is necessary to allow safe access for heavy equipment during this phase of work. The final project will include new landscaping and additional tree plantings as part of expanded outdoor community and green spaces, resulting in an overall positive environmental impact.
What considerations are being made for any unhoused individuals sheltering in or around the buildings?
The buildings have been vacant, secured, and monitored for years, and no active encampments have been identified in the past six months. If any individuals are encountered, the team will connect them with local outreach partners (including 311 and 211, as well as shelters) while following all legal and safety requirements.
Will this affect PRUMC as a polling location?
Yes, temporarily. Due to site work, PRUMC will not be used as a polling location. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections has secured an alternative nearby site to ensure uninterrupted voting access:
Estabrook Recreation Center, 4125 Fulton Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44144
To find your polling location, please visit the Cuyahoga Board of Elections website.
Who can we contact if we have a concern about the current construction or site safety?
If you notice something like an unlocked gate after hours, construction happening outside allowed hours, or vehicles blocking access, please let us know. You can email info@oldbrooklyn.com, which is monitored daily by the OBCDC team. For urgent concerns, call 216-459-1000 ext. 207 and leave a voicemail with as much detail as possible.
What buildings are being demolished and why?
The following structures will be removed: The Greenline Building (and associated structures), The St. Luke’s educational wing addition (built in 1925), and a long-vacant single-family home.
Why removal is necessary: Significant structural deterioration, environmental hazards, including asbestos, lead, and an underground fuel storage tank beneath the Greenline Building, safety concerns, and site/soil issues.
For example, the St. Luke’s education wing has settled into unstable soil, which could lead to serious structural failure and impact the original church building.
Contact Us
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